GENERAL SUMMARY

The Director of SLP Partnerships leads the strategy, development, activation, and management of strategic alliances that advance the mission of the University and the MS in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program and drive enrollment, visibility, and mutual value across the education and healthcare sectors. This role serves as a bridge between the University and potential partners and is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and stewarding partnerships with schools, clinics, hospitals, and employer networks to create innovative pathways for student progression and workforce development.

The Director acts as the primary liaison with external partners to create seamless pathways for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) into the MS-SLP part-time program, while ensuring alignment with academic, accreditation, and clinical standards. Key responsibilities include developing and executing scalable partnership strategies; negotiating and finalizing agreements that support academic, clinical, and professional goals; and measuring partnership performance through defined metrics tied to growth and impact.

Success in this role requires exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and negotiation skills, along with the ability to navigate and influence across a highly matrixed environment-collaborating effectively with Academic Affairs, Marketing, Enrollment, Legal, and Operations teams to ensure seamless execution and sustained partner engagement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The key roles and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Partnership Development & Management

• Identify, cultivate, and sustain partnerships with clinical sites, healthcare organizations, schools, community colleges and other relevant industries to create and maintain enrollment pipelines into the MS-SLP part-time program.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for clinical partners, ensuring consistent communication, mutual value, and compliance with accreditation and programmatic standards.
• Develop and execute partnership agreements, including MOUs, tuition agreements, and workforce development contracts, in collaboration with Legal, Enrollment, and Academic Affairs.
• Build structured pipelines for SLPAs and related professionals seeking academic advancement in speech-language pathology.
• Conduct on-site visits, presentations, and professional outreach to strengthen partner engagement and visibility.
• Develop a partner activation model that moves opportunities from contract to first enrollment within 90 days or less.

Strategic Enrollment Growth
• Develop and execute market expansion strategies to increase program visibility and enrollment through targeted partnerships.
• Design and implement tuition reimbursement and employer partnership models that reduce barriers for working professionals.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Enrollment to create co-branded campaigns, pathway maps, and workforce development collateral.
• Establish measurable partnership performance indicators tied to enrollment growth, student outcomes, and partner satisfaction.

Program and Partnership Operations
• Manage the end-to-end partnership process-from prospecting and negotiation through contract execution and post-launch engagement.
• Maintain a scalable tracking and reporting system to monitor partner performance, student progression, and clinical site utilization.
• Represent the MS-SLP program and the University at professional conferences, regional meetings, and community events.

Program Curriculum Development & Management

• Collaborate with MS-SLP program leadership on curriculum development for the MS-SLP part-time program to support partnerships.
• Work with the MS-SLP clinical placement team to create policies and procedures for speech-language pathology assistants working with partnership placements.

Performance & KPIs

The partner manager will demonstrate ownership of partnership pipeline performance measured by:

• Number of newly signed partnerships per quarter
• Partner activation rate (contract to launch within 90 days)
• Enrollment and revenue contribution from partner channel
• Volume of tuition reimbursement/direct payer agreements
• Retention and expansion of partner accounts

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Requires close collaboration between marketing, program strategy, academic leadership, legal, accreditation, enrollment and field teams.
Must be able to work across a matrix and build cross functional teams

May perform other duties and responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

POSITION IN ORGANIZATION

REPORTS TO: Vice Chancellor or designee

POSITIONS SUPERVISED: Dotted line to SLP Enrollment Advisor & Field Representatives

TRAVEL

This position may be performed remotely and requires up to 60% travel.

TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL & PEOPLE SKILLS REQUIRED

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Incumbents will be evaluated, in part, based on performance of each essential function. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions

• Strong qualitative and analytical skills. Ability to perform market analyses and evaluate results.
• Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Must have advanced interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to develop and deliver presentations to senior management and top-level executives
• Exceptional problem solving and negotiating skills
• Ability to drive the program management process with diplomacy and enthusiasm
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, often in a remote, virtual workplace
• Must have a high level of proficiency of Microsoft Office Suite. High Proficiency in Microsoft Windows including Excel, Word and Power Point.
• Ability to develop marketing presentations, marketing brochures, flyers and other digital assets- working closely with program, marketing and enrollment teams

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Required

• Experience in partnerships, business development, or workforce strategy
• Proven success closing institutional or workforce contracts
• Experience in higher education, healthcare, workforce development, or corporate education
• Demonstrated success building scalable partner frameworks and growth playbooks
• Strong business acumen with ability to influence senior decision-makers

Preferred

• Experience in higher education/clinical education for SLPs
• Background in employer tuition reimbursement models or direct payer agreements
• Knowledge of transfer, articulation, or laddered pathway models
• Leadership experience building and scaling teams

BUSINESS and LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Execution-focused: Moves from strategy to results
• Builder mindset: Designs systems that scale
• Relationship architect: Trusted executive with strong negotiation skills
• Operational rigor: Strong process discipline and partnership management
• Revenue accountability: Growth mindset tied to measurable outcomes
• Collaborative leader: Cross-functional alignment and business integration

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment but may involve exposure to moderate noise levels. Work involves operation of personal computer equipment for six to eight hours daily and includes physical demands associated with a traditional office setting, e.g., walking, standing, communicating, and other physical functions as necessary.